Forrest Co. authorities seize 15 dogs from foreclosed property

A puppy waits to be transported to the Southern Pines Animal Shelter after being seized on property in eastern Forrest County Saturday.

FORREST COUNTY, MS (WDAM) - More than one dozen dogs, mostly pit bull mixes, were seized from a property in eastern Forrest County Saturday afternoon, after authorities received a tip that the animals were allegedly being neglected. Forrest County Sheriff's Department deputies and representatives from Southern Pines Animal Shelter took posession of 15 adult dogs and puppies from a residence on Indian Springs Road near the Perry County line.

They received information from a concerned resident Saturday morning that many of the dogs were being kept on chains without shelter on property that was in foreclosure. Authorities said while the animals were being seized, the former home owners arrived on the scene, but they didn't have any dog houses or vaccination records.

Authorities told them the dogs would be returned if they could provide proper shelter and prove they had been vaccinated within five days.

"The majority of these dogs are all pit bull-type dogs, and they are being housed in such a way, they're on chains away from each other, kind of off in a wooded area," said Katherine Sammons, shelter operations manager for Southern Pines Animal Shelter. "They certainly did not have shelter and they've been out in this inclement weather and these bad storms that we've been having. So, we're taking them to the shelter and try to get them in a better situation," she said.

Sammons said the concerned resident had also found a puppy on the property that had been severly wounded in a fight with another dog.

Smollett reported being beaten up by two men who shouted racist and anti-gay slurs and threw bleach on him. But his story fell apart when actors Smollett knew from the "Empire" set and the gym told police that Smollett paid them $3,500 to stage the attack.